Friday, October 20, 2023

Waterloo turns up the convocation heat to 2,550 degrees

The temperature may be falling outside, but the heat will be rising by thousands of degrees in the PAC today and tomorrow as the University of Waterloo's 127^th Convocation ceremonies take place. More than 2,550 degrees, diplomas and certificates will be awarded to graduands as they cross the stage. Degrees and diplomas will be conferred across a total of four ceremonies on October 20 and 21. The convocation ceremonies are being livestreamed.

But first off, a word about parking during Convocation. "Parking lots M,N,W,L and R will be closed October 20 and 21 for the fall convocation ceremonies," says a note from Parking Services. "We recognize the disruption to our permit holders but feel that providing centralized parking in lots M, N, W, L, and R for convocation ceremonies will ensure ease of navigation and provide a positive, lasting memory of their University experience."

There are accommodations for active permit holders during the ceremonies today and tomorrow:

• Staff Permits for L Lot are valid in lots Q or X; and
• Staff Permits for R Lot are valid in lots J, S, or X.

At all four ceremonies, which will be held in the Physical Activities Complex, Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the National Anthem, and Myeengun Henry will carry the Eagle staff, accompanied by traditional Indigenous drumming. 

Mathematics ceremony (Friday, October 20, 10:00 a.m.)

353 undergraduate students, 151 Master's students, and 35 PhD candidates will cross the stage at the first ceremony this morning.

Bearing the mace will be Gautam Kamath, Assistant Professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science.

David McKinnon, Chair, Pure Mathematics, will present Scott Davis for the conferment of the title Honorary Member of the University. Davis has had an outstanding career, spanning over 35 years within co-operative education. His work as a program coordinator supported thousands of students in their learning, and as faculty relations manager he collaborated with associate deans on program reviews, new program development, and problem-solving student cases. Davis joined the Risk Management, Economic and Actuarial Science Development in Indonesia project which resulted in the Indonesian government adopting co-operative education as a recognized model of education. Outside of the University, he served on the board of Experiential & Work Learning Ontario (EWO) as chair, was active with Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL CANADA), and was chair of the Accreditation Council.

Wayne Oldford, Professor, Statistics and Actuarial Science, will present David Hand for the admission to the degree of Doctor of Mathematics, honoris causa, in absentia. Dr. Hand will address convocation.

Mark Giesbrecht, Dean, Faculty of Mathematics, will address convocation.

Receiving the K.D. Fryer Gold Medal for academic excellence and good citizenship will be David Khazzam. The finalist for the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal at the Doctoral level is Cameron Francis Meaney.

Faculties of Health and Science ceremony (Friday, October 20, 2:30 p.m.)

The second of today's ceremonies will feature graduates from the Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Science. For the Faculty of Health, 84 undergraduates, 207 Master's students, and 7 PhD candidates will receive their degrees, while for the Faculty of Science, 342 undergraduates, 60 Master's students, and 35 PhD candidates will cross the convocation stage.

Bearing the mace will be Laura Deakin, Continuing Lecturer for the Department of Chemistry and the Associate Program Director (Internal) for Nanotechnology Engineering.

Bob Lemieux, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Science, will present Karen Trevors for the conferment of the title Honorary Member of the University. Trevors received a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Biology from Acadia University in 1979 and a Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Waterloo in 1981. Trevors was hired as an instructor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo in 1985 and workedin that capacity until 2000 when she was hired as executive officer in the Faculty of Science. She remained in that role for the rest of her career at Waterloo. Trevors also served on many University committees, including staff relations, staff dispute resolution, joint health and safety, staff grievances, and honorary degree. Trevors retired from the University in 2023.

Lili Liu, Dean, Faculty of Health, will introduce Dr. Margaret Mutumba (PhD ’21) to address convocation as special guest speaker. Dr. Mutumba is a global health innovator focused on access to affordable healthcare in low resource settings. She has over 10 years of health sector management experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. She also has research experience in maternal, reproductive, fertility and health systems. Mutumba has proven success in health innovation and entrepreneurship. She possesses a strong ethos of equity, evident in actions that support diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Mutumba earned an Honours Bachelor of Science, Pharmacology, Kings College London; a Master of Public Health, Imperial College London, and a Doctorate in Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo. She is program director at Frugal Medical Innovations at Western University.

Chris Houser, Dean, Faculty of Science, will address convocation.

Faculty of Arts ceremony (Saturday, October 21, 10:00 a.m.)

The first ceremony on Saturday, October 21 will featuring the graduating students from the Faculty of Arts. 330 undergraduates, 335 Master's students, and 13 PhD candidates will receive their degrees and diplomas. 

Bearing the mace will be Colin MacLeod, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Psychology.

Douglas Peers, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Arts, will present William "Bill" Chesney for the conferment of the title Honorary Member of the University. Dr. Chesney joined the Department of Communication Arts (formerly the Department of Drama and Speech Communication) in 1993 and served as associate dean of undergraduate studies from 2007 to 2019. An innovative researcher and practitioner of stagecraft, he produced over 80 set and costuming designs at the University as well as for countless productions across Canada. Chesney is highly regarded for his teaching and mentorship, especially in helping students realize their artistic vision. He led the Faculty of Arts in transforming its curriculum to better meet student needs. Chesney is a tireless advocate for the fine and performing arts, and effectively championed their societal contributions at the University and beyond.

James Skidmore, Chair, Germanic and Slavic Studies, will present Alison Phipps for the admission to the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. Dr. Phipps will address convocation.

Dean of Arts, Sheila Ager, will address convocation.

Faculties of Engineering and Environment ceremony (Saturday, October 21, 2:30 p.m.)

The final ceremony on Saturday will featuring graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Environment. For Engineering, 105 undergraduates, 217 Master's students, and 54 PhD candidates will cross the stage, while for Environment, 106 undergraduates, 91 Master's students, and 9 PhD candidates will receive their degrees.

Bearing the mace will be Maya Pryzybylski, the O'Donovan Director and Associate Professor at the School of Architecture.

Jean Andrey, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Environment, will present Dennis Huber for the conferment of the title Honorary Member of the University. As the longest serving vice-president in the University of Waterloo’s history, Huber played an integral role in supporting the evolution of Waterloo into the world-class institution of higher learning we know today. Arriving at Waterloo in 1986 as a plant operations manager, he rose to become director of Business Services, then associate provost, general services and finance and finally, in 2001, vice-president, administration and finance. Thanks to his tireless efforts, Waterloo acquired an additional 50 acres of lands and buildings, its facilities more than doubled in size and it opened four satellite campuses. His leadership was instrumental in the development of the David Johnston Research + Technology Park on the University’s north campus, as well as the interconnection of most buildings within the ring road. In every aspect of his work, Huber promoted responsible and sustainable stewardship of the University’s financial and physical assets. Retiring last fall after 36 years of outstanding service, he left a lasting mark on Waterloo.

Mary Wells, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, will present Weiya Xu for the admission to the degree of Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, in absentia. Dr. Xu will address convocation.

Jeff Casello, Associate Vice-President, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, will address convocation.

The University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic performance in a Master's program will go to Seung June Lee of the Faculty of Engineering. The Finalist for the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal at the Doctoral level is Tao Guo of the Faculty of Engineering. The Finalist for the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal at the Doctoral level is Melanie Goodchild from Environment and at the Master's level the finalist is Mary Ann Gray from Environment.

That's pretty much it for the pomp and circumstance of fall convocation. Student-facing staff and faculty are encouraged to celebrate graduates at the post-ceremony receptions — just look for the biggest tent on the BMH green and stop on by.

Mark Weber named special advisor to the Provost on leadership strategy and development

The Vice-President, Academic and Provost, Dr. James Rush, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Weber to the position of Special Advisor to the Provost on Leadership Strategy and Development, for an initial three-year term beginning January 2024. 

This is a new role, created in the context of the framework and recommendations emerging from the Provost’s Advisory Committee (PAC) on Building a Resilient University of Waterloo. The PAC articulated that key enablers of the Resiliency Framework included fostering adaptive and inclusive leadership, and building an empowered organizational culture with an emphasis on accountability. Recognizing that the successful pursuit of the University’s strategic objectives is reliant on outstanding leadership, world-class management, and high-performance teams, it is imperative that the University provide a strategy and supports to develop and enable leaders in the establishment of a One University culture of purposeful de-siloing, and help in contributing to best outcomes for the overall system using institution-wide flexible and integrated approaches.   

Working in collaboration with Executive Council and reporting to the Provost, Mark will explore and propose a comprehensive strategy to nurture leadership potential and interest among faculty and staff, to develop the skills and capacities of existing leaders at all levels, and to better create the conditions for leader success. His efforts will be integral to building consensus on priorities and goals in this domain among the University’s most senior leadership, and will help to inform long-term strategies and commitments necessary to support and enhance Waterloo’s position on the world stage. 

“Mark is uniquely suited to take on this strategically important role for the University,” says the Provost. “He is a long-serving academic leader on campus; very aware of both our opportunities and challenges; and is well-known as a leadership expert, executive educator, and organizational consultant in internal and external circles.” 

Under his leadership as the Eyton Director of the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business for the past 10 years, the faculty complement has tripled, and Conrad’s team of faculty and staff has successfully launched seven new programs and major programmatic initiatives, with three new degree programs at various stages of development and implementation. 

Mark is a proud UWaterloo alumnus who graduated with his Honours degree in Psychology in 1994 before going on to complete a Masters degree in social psychology at McGill, an MBA at Wilfrid Laurier, and a PhD in Management and Organizations from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Along the way he also held senior leadership roles in local government, a not-for-profit organization, and a multi-branch financial cooperative. Mark was first on faculty at University of Toronto, and enjoyed visiting appointments at the University of Michigan and INSEAD before joining the faculty of UWaterloo, first as part of SEED in Environment and SAF in Arts, and finally in the Conrad School in Engineering. 

An award-winning teacher and researcher, Mark has made scholarly contributions in the areas of leadership, cooperation, decision-making, and trust.  

“I was so encouraged to see the need for this highlighted in the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Building a Resilient University of Waterloo report, and to learn of the Provost’s desire to invest in world-class leadership systems at Waterloo,” said Mark. “This University is incredibly important to me, to our region, and to Canada. Along with the Provost, I’m convinced that thoughtful and strategic investments in leadership will be key to achieving both Waterloo’s potential now, and the Waterloo at 100 vision. I’m looking forward to gathering input from all University stakeholders and working alongside those already doing important leadership training and support at our institution.” 

Mark will continue as Director of the Conrad School through December 31, with his full-time work as Special Advisor beginning January 1. In the intervening time between now and January 1, Mark will begin his Special Advisor work as possible, with his primary responsibility being to ensure the smooth transition of Conrad to interim leadership while the school begins its formal search for a new Director. 

Congratulations on this important appointment, Mark. 

Win a Microsoft Surface Pro 9 from the W Store

A message from W Store.

Purchase any tech products in-store at W Store | South Campus Hall or W Store Essentials | MC for a chance to win a Microsoft Surface Pro 9.

For every $25 spent on technology items, receive a ballot for a chance to win a Surface Pro 9. An additional ballot will be given for every $25 spent (on technology products only), before tax.

• $25 = 1 ballot
• $50 = 2 ballots
• $75 = 3 ballots
• $100 = 4 ballots

The giveaway is only applicable to in-store purchases at W Store | SCH or W Store Essentials | MC. Tax is not included towards the total amount spent to qualify for entry to the giveaway. Tech purchases cannot be returned or exchanged for other W Store merchandise once entered into the giveaway. The giveaway closes on November 10 at 5:00 p.m. and is open to all students, staff and faculty. One winner will be randomly drawn from the ballot box and contacted the week of November 13.

Progress Pride Flag stickers on their way to all employees

A message from the Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo (FAUW) and the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA).

The University's faculty association and staff association have teamed up to print and distribute more than 5,000 pride flag stickers to employees. Posting your sticker somewhere visible in your workspace is one small way to show your support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the wake of the hate attacks of June 28 targeting that community. We hope that thousands of pride stickers displayed all over our four campuses will help send the message that all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community belong at Waterloo.

Flag stickers should be arriving in department mailboxes this week. Each unit will get a package of stickers to distribute amongst staff and faculty as desired.

We've selected the most up-to-date version of the pride flag: the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag. You might be more familiar with the classic six-colour rainbow flag, so here's a bit of history: In 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs commissioned an updated pride flag with black and brown stripes to represent communities of colour often overlooked in the mainstream LGBTQ+ movement. The Progress Pride Flag soon added white, pink, and light blue stripes to represent the trans community. In 2021, a purple circle on a yellow background was added to represent the intersex community, giving us the current version. You can learn about the whole range of pride and sexual orientation flags on the Human Rights Campaign website.

Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ students and colleagues

If you choose to display your sticker and are approached by a student or colleague looking for support:

1. Listen and acknowledge what they’re experiencing.
2. Ask if and how you can help.
3. If they want, refer them to on- or off-campus resources, either for specific supports or to connect with the 2SLBGTQIA+ community.

To equip yourself for better supporting students and colleagues in a range of situations, consider taking training or reviewing resources on:

• 2SLGTBQIA+ Fundamentals;
• Gender identity and sexual orientation;
• Unlearning the Binary (October 25);
• Supporting a student in distress;
• Mental Health Literacy and responding to people in distress; and
• Active Bystander Intervention and Responding to Disclosures.

Continue reading on the Staff Association or Faculty Association website for specific resources you can access or refer to others.

Talent Evolution Series looks at impact of AI on the future of work

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education.

As industries and businesses look to take advantage of AI in the workplace, how will this impact our future? 

On Tuesday, October 24, Co-operative and Experiential Education and the Waterloo Alumni Chapter are co-hosting a panel discussion to explore the opportunities and threats AI poses on the future of work. 

Join a panel of alumni, industry and a co-op student to discuss:

• AI in the workplace: fears and opportunities;
• Concerns about AI pushing a systemically racist and inequitable narrative; and 
• How we can make AI a valuable teammate to drive business goals ahead. 

The in-person event will take place at the CIGI Campus in Waterloo from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the panel discussion beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 ($5 for current Waterloo students) and include a drink ticket, refreshments and networking opportunity before and after the panel discussion. 

Co-op students love a night out! Bring the co-op students you work with. 

Visit the event page for more information.